Models of the prehistoric past

Kids have always been fascinated by dinosaurs. And here's a book that proves it. In their inventive and well-researched biography, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, Barbara Kerley (who is, according to the back cover, "an authoress of thrilling character") and Brian Selznick ("famous artist to Her Majesty the Queen") bring to life the work of Benjamin Waterhouse...

Captivating portrait of Buddha

There are hundreds even thousands of religions in the world today, and each has its own history. From Christianity and the birth of Christ, Islam and the revelations of Muhammad, to Buddhism and the teachings of the Buddha himself, it is critical that our children learn the importance and individuality of different faiths. The Prince Who Ran Away is the perfect tool for getting kids interested...

Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

In anticipation of the November 16 film release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book sales for the best-selling series are rising faster than Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick in a championship Quidditch match. The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban recently shot to the No.1 spot on the bestseller lists, and author J. K. Rowling must be asking herself,...

Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

In anticipation of the November 16 film release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book sales for the best-selling series are rising faster than Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick in a championship Quidditch match. The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban recently shot to the No.1 spot on the bestseller lists, and author J. K. Rowling must be asking herself,...

The magic of Mary Pope Osborne

There's definitely something magical about Mary Pope Osborne. Combining time-travel, adventure and history, her Magic Tree House books have enthralled millions of kids since the series began in 1992 with Dinosaurs Before Dark.If you've come anywhere near a child in the last nine years, chances are you're familiar with Magic Tree House. The stories revolve around two children, eight-year-old...

A moving Gold Rush tale

It's been a long time since a story has moved me to tears. With Walk Across the Sea, Susan Fletcher has written a tale about 1886 California, the prejudice against the Chinese and a 13-year-old girl's friendship with a "heathen" China Boy a relationship that develops after he saves her goat from a "sneaker wave" that threatens to wash both Eliza and the animal out to sea.But...

Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

In anticipation of the November 16 film release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book sales for the best-selling series are rising faster than Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick in a championship Quidditch match. The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban recently shot to the No.1 spot on the bestseller lists, and author J. K. Rowling must be asking herself,...

A quiet forest tale

It's the morning after a blizzard, and deep in the woods, the animals begin to notice that something is different. The birds are the first to call out the warning: "There's a stranger in the woods! There's a stranger in the woods!" But who is brave enough to take a closer look? Will it be the owl, the deer, the rabbit or the chickadee? How about the cardinal or the mouse? Slowly,...

Nothing's hotter than Harry Potter

In anticipation of the November 16 film release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book sales for the best-selling series are rising faster than Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand broomstick in a championship Quidditch match. The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban recently shot to the No.1 spot on the bestseller lists, and author J. K. Rowling must be asking herself,...

A memorable holiday present

Yearly each December, Christmas trees appear in malls and offices, and tree sales spring up on lots and street corners across the nation. It's just not Christmas in the U.S. without Christmas trees. Like many American customs, the Christmas tree tradition traveled from across the ocean to our shores. Author Rick Osborne set out to discover the origin of the Christmas tree and its connection to...